Sharjah
UAE Creates History with First-Ever T20I Series Win, Defeats Bangladesh in Sharjah: The UAE national cricket team scripted history on Wednesday night with a sensational seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, sealing their first-ever T20I series win against a full-member Test-playing nation. The Muhammad Waseem-led side bounced back from an opening loss to claim the series 2-1, marking a significant milestone in UAE’s cricketing journey.
After losing the first match on May 17 by 21 runs, the UAE responded in emphatic fashion on May 19, leveling the series with a six-wicket win, powered by disciplined bowling and a quickfire 48 from Vriitya Aravind.
The decider on May 21 showcased the UAE’s growing strength in T20I cricket. The hosts restricted Bangladesh to a modest 129 runs thanks to a phenomenal bowling spell by Haider Ali, who grabbed 3 wickets for just 7 runs in his four-over spell. Chasing the target, UAE recovered from early jitters to post 130/3 in 17.4 overs, riding on an unbeaten 87-run fourth-wicket partnership between Alishan Sharafu (68 off 49)* and *Asif Khan (41 off 28)**.
“A Glorious Chapter in UAE’s Cricketing History”
The Emirates Cricket Board Chairman, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, hailed the victory, saying:
“The Emirates Cricket Board is delighted with the outstanding performance of the UAE Men’s team in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The team played brilliantly throughout, and the support staff put in the hard yards to make this victory possible.
“I want to congratulate the entire squad and wish them the very best in their upcoming international assignments. The ECB will continue to provide the best possible facilities and exposure to our immensely talented players. UAE continues to impress in the T20I format, and this Bangladesh series win is another glorious chapter in our cricketing history.
“In the recent past, the team has defeated formidable Test-playing opponents like Afghanistan and New Zealand. This series win will give immense confidence and self-belief to our players as they prepare to take on even bigger and more established teams.”
A New Era for UAE Cricket
This series win not only boosts the morale of the national side but also highlights the growing competitiveness of Associate nations in international cricket. The victory will likely improve UAE’s standing in the ICC T20I rankings and solidify the team’s reputation as a rising power in the shortest format of the game.
With key performances from emerging talents and solid support from seasoned players like captain Muhammad Waseem, the UAE’s cricketing future looks brighter than ever.
Match Results:
- 1st T20I (May 17): Bangladesh 152/6 (20 overs) beat UAE 131/9 (20 overs) by 21 runs
- 2nd T20I (May 19): UAE 138/4 (18.3 overs) beat Bangladesh 134/8 (20 overs) by 6 wickets
- 3rd T20I (May 21): Bangladesh 129/9 (20 overs) lost to UAE 130/3 (17.4 overs) by 7 wickets
